Screen flickering & error code help

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Level 1

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Screen flickering & error code help

Hello, I've been having a spot of bother with my September 2008 vintage Imac 24".
It had its graphic card fixed/replaced recently. However, artefacts keep appearing in random locations, and occasionally rather thick wide black lines appear horizontally (and sometimes vertically). It crashes the system but if I leave it a while it comes back.
however, more worryingly, when I use iTunes it freezes the computer completely and I have to hard reboot.
I've had a brief look round the discussions, but they were mainly for white imacs, not aluminium ones.
Here is what I believe is the salient error:

Mon Oct 11 20:32:29 2010
panic(cpu 1 caller 0x00DA66A4): NVRM[0]: Read Error 0x00003250: BAR0 0xa2000000 0x35940000 0x092480a2 D0 P3/4
Backtrace (CPU 1), Frame : Return Address (4 potential args on stack)
0x2ef139a8 : 0x12b4c6 (0x45f91c 0x2ef139dc 0x13355c 0x0)
0x2ef139f8 : 0xda66a4 (0xfd6e80 0xfd6e80 0xf9b6d4 0x0)
0x2ef13a58 : 0x105fdf0 (0x512cc04 0x5411004 0x3250 0x2)
0x2ef13a98 : 0x1047e05 (0x5411004 0x3250 0x2ef13ac8 0x0)
0x2ef13ac8 : 0xef11e6 (0x5411004 0x5616804 0x2ef13bc4 0x0)
0x2ef13c38 : 0xf09306 (0x5411004 0x5616804 0x72550bc 0x0)
0x2ef13ce8 : 0xf0881b (0x5411004 0x561cc04 0x0 0x0)
0x2ef13d68 : 0xf0b24f (0x5411004 0x561cc04 0x8 0x2)
0x2ef13ec8 : 0xe8a434 (0x5411004 0x0 0x2ef13f18 0x2ef13f14)
0x2ef13f38 : 0xda7250 (0x512cc04 0x24822004 0x0 0x0)
0x2ef13f58 : 0xd92210 (0x24822004 0x2d8cab97 0x2ef13f78 0x1a436f)
0x2ef13f78 : 0x13ebde (0x4871c00 0x24822004 0x1a436f 0x59254f0)
0x2ef13fc8 : 0x1a14fc (0x522b60 0x0 0x1a40b5 0x6267998)
Backtrace terminated-invalid frame pointer 0
Kernel loadable modules in backtrace (with dependencies):
com.apple.nvidia.nv50hal(5.4.8)@0xfec000->0x123ffff
dependency: com.apple.NVDAResman(5.4.8)@0xd8d000
com.apple.NVDAResman(5.4.8)@0xd8d000->0xfebfff
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(1.7.3)@0xd7f000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.6)@0x5ce000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(1.7.3)@0xd45000

BSD process name corresponding to current thread: kernel_task

Mac OS version:
9L31a

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 9.8.0: Wed Jul 15 16:55:01 PDT 2009; root:xnu-1228.15.4~1/RELEASE_I386
System model name: iMac8,1 (Mac-F227BEC8)

Any ideas ladies and gents?

IMAC Sep 2008, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Oct 12, 2010 11:59 AM

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Answer 1

a brody

Level 10

85,366 points

Oct 12, 2010 12:08 PM in response to Mr Nayf

Welcome to Apple Discussions!
Sorry, sounds like your logicboard's graphics chip has gone south. Run the hardware test that came with the Mac to confirm.

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Answer 2

Mr Nayf Author

Level 1

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Oct 12, 2010 12:20 PM in response to a brody

Ah cheers, what I guessed.
I bet the warranty on the gfx card expired last week or something. Oh well... another £350 I'll have to conjure up from somewhere...

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Answer 3

elmac

Level 5

4,252 points

Oct 12, 2010 12:24 PM in response to Mr Nayf

Hi, if you have recently had it repaired/serviced I would go back to the repair centre & ask them about their repair warranty...L

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Answer 4

Mr Nayf Author

Level 1

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Oct 12, 2010 12:35 PM in response to elmac

My tame apple employee is going to check my account details to see whether the repair's under warranty...
I really can't afford £350, but I need it for work.
I love the imac when its working, but is quite galling the expense of repair when pc users can spend £75 and easily do it themselves, whereas with imacs it's £350.
It's this reason, and this reason alone, that puts me off buying an imac again.

Message was edited by: Mr Nayf

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Answer 5

elmac

Level 5

4,252 points

Oct 12, 2010 12:40 PM in response to Mr Nayf

Hi, Macs are a bit like Porches, when they run Ok..s m o o t h..when theres an issue Oh Boy"..
Somehow even when I use my wife's high end PC I still feel like I'm going back to driving a model T Ford..L

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Answer 6

Mr Nayf Author

Level 1

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Oct 12, 2010 12:47 PM in response to elmac

I understand that analogy all too well - I also drive an Alfa Romeo!

Message was edited by: Mr Nayf

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Answer 7

elmac

Level 5

4,252 points

Oct 12, 2010 12:49 PM in response to Mr Nayf

I used to be (in the UK) an Alfa & Fiat test driver, I just loved the Fiat Coupe (5cylinder Turbo)
Here in the USA we hope soon to be getting Alfa's..yipeeeeeeeee...L

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Answer 8

Mr Nayf Author

Level 1

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Oct 12, 2010 12:59 PM in response to elmac

Oh yes? I do like the Fiat coupe, but I'm an Alfa man now. I've got a 156 selespeed. Yes, a selespeed - I never do things the easy way...
Did you ever test the 147/156 GTAs?
As for Alfa in the US... hmm, not so sure. They keep putting it off, and the 159 replacement doesn't look as if it's turning up soon.

On the plus side my mac's been fine for the last hour, but I've not switched on itunes... hmmm

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Answer 9

elmac

Level 5

4,252 points

Oct 12, 2010 1:12 PM in response to Mr Nayf

Hi, glad the Mac seems to have settled down, go on try iTunes..
I left the UK in 2001, last time I test drove was in late 2000. Alfas & a couple of Fords..used the
Ford/Dunton test track..then some of the best driving roads around Essex & the Duxford area..L

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Answer 10

Mr Nayf Author

Level 1

0 points

Oct 12, 2010 1:15 PM in response to elmac

iTunes seems to be ok now... odd. case is now warmed up... no artefacts.
I'll try logic. Could be that it needs to warm up to work... also like my Alfa...

I'm going to try iTunes store now, which was running when it crashed badly...

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Answer 11

Mr Nayf Author

Level 1

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Oct 12, 2010 1:37 PM in response to Mr Nayf

gone again, I'm afraid. This time I had the multilingual shutdown message. couple of crashed reboots, now ok for the moment…
Going to the shop tomorrow 😟

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